Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Can't Afford Me by Thedora Birnir

Chapter 1573:

Her silence wasn’t cold—it was cautious. And yet, she hadn’t closed the door on him. That alone gave him hope.

To Eric, that was enough—for now. As long as she was still within reach, still beside him, he could wait. He would prove to her that the love in his heart wasn’t torn between two worlds—but rooted in both, with her on either end.

Once Hadley had removed her makeup and changed, they quietly left the studio.

By the time they returned to Olisvale Bay, straightened up, and settled into bed, the clock had slipped past two in the morning.

Like always, Eric slipped under the covers beside her, unbothered by the late hour or her silence. He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Good night,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her hair. “Sweet dreams.”

“You too,” Hadley murmured, eyes closed, her back turned to him. Her voice was barely a breath.

Eric exhale quietly, a fragile kind of relief settling into his chest. “Everything will be

just as his breathing evened out and sleep began to pull at him, Hadley

her. Not tonight. Restlessness stirred

lifted his arm and slipped out of bed. Her

onto the balcony, the open window allowing the cool night air to drift gently

around herself. Her eyes searched the stars above, distant and steady—so unlike the storm inside

her began to settle. Her breathing evened out. Still hugging herself, she laid her cheek on her arms

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alone. At the doorway, where she couldn’t see, half-hidden in shadow, Eric

left his side, something in him alert to her every movement. He’d opened his eyes as she slipped away and watched silently

sky, so small against the vastness, his chest tightened with a pain

turned away, as if shielding himself from the